Burnside
With 88% of dwellings as separate houses and 48.8% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, Burnside is oriented toward families rather than renters or apartment buyers. At a $510,000 median house price with household income in the 56th percentile nationally, affordability is more accessible than most coastal Sunshine Coast markets. Population grew 32.4% over the decade, and gentrification is classified as Active, with net internal migration of 94 people per year. The IRSD decile of 4 places Burnside below the national midpoint on relative advantage, yet mortgage-to-income at 24.6% stays below the stress threshold.
Population
3,104
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,626/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$510K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $510,000 median house price positions Burnside below coastal Sunshine Coast benchmarks, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,733 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably lower than the 30% stress threshold. The stock is dominated by detached houses at 88%, with only 0.4% apartments. Family-sized configurations dominate: 48.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.4% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage holders account for 51.6% of households against 28.6% who own outright, typical of a mortgage-belt suburb where buyers are accumulating equity. The 4.1% vacancy rate, above tighter coastal markets, means buyers face less competition for stock.
For Buyers
The $510,000 median house price positions Burnside below coastal Sunshine Coast benchmarks, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,733 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably lower than the 30% stress threshold. The stock is dominated by detached houses at 88%, with only 0.4% apartments. Family-sized configurations dominate: 48.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.4% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage holders account for 51.6% of households against 28.6% who own outright, typical of a mortgage-belt suburb where buyers are accumulating equity. The 4.1% vacancy rate, above tighter coastal markets, means buyers face less competition for stock.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $420 against a $510,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, higher than most comparable coastal Sunshine Coast suburbs at current prices. The 19.9% renter share is moderate, and vacancy at 4.1% is elevated compared to national norms, so landlords carry some letting risk. Net internal migration of 94 per year and overseas migration of 74 per year give a balanced demand base. Population is forecast to grow from 6,635 in 2025 to approximately 7,457 by 2031 under the medium scenario, an 12% rise supporting steady rental demand. Eleven development applications in the past 12 months indicate low supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+87.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burnside iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Burnside State High School
7-12 · 809 students
Burnside State School
Prep-6 · 368 students
Demographics
Burnside's median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, and couples with children make up 43.8% of families, with average household size of 2.7, slightly above national. Overseas-born residents at 14.9% are 6.7 points below national, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry mix: English (1,389 residents), Irish (383), and Scottish (350) are the top three groups. University qualifications at 23.2% sit 6.9 points below the national rate, indicating a workforce weighted toward trade, community, and service roles. Volunteering reaches 15.3% of residents, and 76.6% have stayed at the same address, pointing to a settled, low-turnover population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.0%
Houses
11.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Burnside's tenure split of 51.6% mortgage holders, 28.6% outright owners, and 19.9% renters confirms an owner-occupier-dominated market. The stock is 88% separate houses and just 0.4% apartments, with semi-detached at 11.6%. Bedroom counts are large: 48.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price of $510,000 with weekly rent at $420 gives a rent-to-income ratio of 25.8%, below the stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, putting mortgage-to-income at 24.6%, lower than most QLD coastal suburbs. The 4.1% vacancy rate is above the tight 2-3% range typical of high-demand areas.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$733
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.6%
Couples, no children
2,580
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 25.6% of employed residents, above the national industry average, followed by Construction at 12.9% and Education at 9.8%. Professional/Tech accounts for 6.2%, below national, consistent with a SEIFA IEO decile of 4, which ranks below the national midpoint on education and occupation standing. By occupation, Professionals (259) and Community/Personal service workers (210) are the two largest groups, with Labourers (162) also prominent. Unemployment sits at 5.2%, above average, and the full-time rate of 58.1% is moderate. Household income is in the 56.3rd percentile nationally, and real income grew 7.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
3,540
Unemployed
197
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.1%
Part-time
36.7%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
1,331
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.2%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
14.9%
Dwellings
1,102
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 92.8% of workers drive to work, above the national average, while public transport use is only 1.1%, reflecting limited services in Sunshine Coast hinterland areas. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Burnside at the national median on relative advantage and disadvantage, while the IER decile of 8 indicates above-average economic resources because property holdings are strong relative to area incomes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families access schools in adjacent Nambour and Woombye. Rent-to-income at 25.8% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% both sit below stress thresholds, making day-to-day costs more manageable than in higher-priced coastal suburbs.
Drive
92.8%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.32%/yr
(+154 people/yr)
EstablishedBurnside's 32.4% population increase over the decade is well above the national average for established suburbs, and the gentrification score of 43 places it in the Active stage. Annual growth runs at 2.32%, adding around 154 residents per year, higher than most comparable QLD hinterland areas. Net internal migration of 94 per year drives most of that growth, supplemented by overseas migration of 74. The medium forecast lifts the population from 6,635 in 2025 to 7,457 by 2031. Affordability held stable at 59.6% in 2011 versus 59.2% in 2021, suggesting price growth tracked income growth rather than running ahead of it.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+74
Net Internal / yr
+94
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +48% since 2011, Net internal migration +94/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 34%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burnside compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burnside a good suburb to live in?
Burnside suits families seeking affordable detached housing, with a $510,000 median price, mortgage-to-income of 24.6%, and 88% of homes as separate houses. The IRSAD decile of 5 places it at the national median on advantage. The main trade-off is high car dependency, with 92.8% driving to work and minimal public transport.
What is the median house price in Burnside?
The median house price is estimated at $510,000 as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Gross rental yield is approximately 4.3% at these price and rent levels.
What schools are in Burnside?
No schools are recorded inside the Burnside boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Nambour, Woombye, and Palmwoods. University qualifications among Burnside residents reach 23.2%, which is 6.9 points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's trade and service workforce profile.
Is Burnside safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Burnside in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the IRSAD decile of 5 places it at the national median on relative disadvantage, and 9.1% of residents need daily assistance. The low turnover rate of 23.4% and stable, established population are generally associated with settled community conditions.
Is Burnside good for property investment?
Burnside offers an estimated gross yield of around 4.3%, higher than most coastal Sunshine Coast suburbs at current prices. Population is forecast to grow from 6,635 in 2025 to approximately 7,457 by 2031 under the medium scenario. The 4.1% vacancy rate is above average, so investors should factor some letting risk into projections. Net internal migration of 94 per year provides a steady demand base.
How is Burnside's population changing?
Burnside grew 32.4% over the past decade and is expanding at 2.32% per year, adding around 154 residents annually. The population reached 6,635 in 2025 and is forecast to hit 7,457 by 2031. Internal migration of 94 per year and overseas migration of 74 per year together drive the Active gentrification classification, scoring 43 out of 100.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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